Church History

On January 23, 1972, sixty-five spirit-filled Christians who were former members of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Seattle, Washington were compelled to organize a new church as a place of worship.

As the Lord directed, a call was extended to Dr. B. A. Taylor, former Pastor of Tabernacle to serve as Pastor of our newly organized Damascus Missionary Baptist Church. He accepted on February 20, 1972 and we were incorporated by the State of Washington on February 23, 1972.

One of the outreach plans for our church was a Pre-School and Child Care Service which began in the lower level of our church located at 5503 Rainier Avenue South during our first year. As the Lord blessed this outreach program, in 1976 we purchased a larger (12,600 square foot) facility two blocks north at 5237 Rainier Avenue South. This building also serves as our church’s Educational Center and has become the Dr. B. A. Taylor Educational Center in his honor.

Under Pastor Taylor’s leadership, in 1988, we purchased additional properties adjacent to the Educational Center with a vision to build a new Sanctuary. As additional members united with the Damascus Fellowship, a Capital Stewardship Campaign Ministry was inaugurated in 1991. Through God’s blessings and members’ sacrifice, we observed our Ground Breaking Ceremony on October 24, 1993. Construction began September 20, 1995 and we marched into the new Sanctuary of Damascus Missionary Baptist Church, 5261 Rainier Avenue South -immediately south of the Educational Center -, Sunday morning, April 14, 1996.

Dr. B.A. Taylor served as pastor of Damascus faithfully for 28 years. He planned to retire March 31, 2000. However, the Lord called him home January 20, 2000 while on vacation with his wife Lucy in Daytona Beach, Florida.

We thank God for sending us a dynamic preacher and teacher who demonstrated his commitment to carry out God’s work through his ministry as Pastor of Damascus Missionary Baptist Church in Seattle, Washington.

From January 2000 to June 2001, Dr. O.J. Moore served as interim pastor. He faithfully, with integrity and character, discharged the duties of Interim Pastor.

On June 10, 2001, the Damascus Church Family called Minister P.J. Oliver to serve as the second Pastor of Damascus Missionary Baptist Church. Under the leadership of Pastor Oliver the Leadership Council was formed, the church Mission Statement was established, the Church Constitution was revised, and a Spring Christian Education Institute was launched.

On November 6, 2005, Reverend James P. Broughton III was called to serve as the third Pastor of Damascus Missionary Baptist Church.

Under Pastor Broughton’s leadership, the Damascus Familyhas grown spiritually and numericallyas we continue to strive to be a Christ-Centered and Spirit-driven fellowship through relevant sermons, intimacy in personal and corporate prayer and bible study, heart-felt worship and loving fellowship. A vision statement was established “Loving, Lifting, Learning, Living and Looking.” Through his tenure, we are re-examining our ministry priorities and pursuits in light of the Great Commission as commanded by our Lord in Matthew 28 .

In building on the foundation laid by Dr. B.A. Taylor, Pastor Broughton continues the emphasis on ministry to the Community and Congregation through Education, Health and Mission. He envisions Damascus as promoting a Holistic ministry agenda that extends beyond mere “spiritualism” to a church that is “missional” where new ministries are birthed and developed to meet the changing needs of the 21st century ministry landscape. To facilitate this transformation, the following ministries have been developed and expanded: Audio/Visual; Konnexions (Outreach Ministry); Christian Education; Compassionate Hands (Health Ministry); S.A.G.E. Ministry (Senior Advice Grounded throughExperience); Evangelism, Culinary Arts, Couples Ministry, Mobile Health Clinic, Intel Computer Club, AARTH (African American Reach & Teach Health), Radio Broadcast Ministry, and Technology Ministry.